Records Fall As Buffs Win Own Simpson Invitational

Colorado Avid Golfer

ERIE, Colo. – It was a record-setting event as the men’s golf team recorded its first win in three years, topping the field here by five strokes at the second-annual University of Colorado Mark Simpson Invitational.

The Buffs recorded a final round of 8-under par 280 to finish 24-under par 840 on the 7,771-yard, par-72 Colorado National Golf Course.  The 54-hole total of 840 is tied for the second-lowest team score in CU history.

“We wanted to come out and make a statement,” CU head coach Roy Edwards said. “To see them do that is pretty exciting.  It was a very strong field and it’s hard to win golf tournaments.  This is the most important event on our regular season schedule and to win a tournament that we have for Mark Simpson is really special and important to us.”

It’s the Buffs’ first victory since winning the Ron Moore Invitational in Denver during the fall 2008 season and marks just the second time CU has opened the season with a victory, joining the 1983-84 squad that won the Wyoming Invitational right out of the gate.  It is also the first time CU has won its own event since taking the rain-shortened Stevinson Ranch Invitational in 2006.

“We are at an advantage because we get to play the course more than everybody else and we set the course up pretty tough,” Edwards said. “But sometimes you put too much pressure on yourself to play well at home but the guys definitely didn’t do that and we were able to use it to our advantage.”

CU held off a red-hot New Mexico squad down the stretch and won by five strokes as the Lobos posted a 19-under par 845 after a final round total of 11-under par 277, the best team total in any of the three rounds.  Both teams finished on a tear, as the Buffs went a combined 5-under par on the final two holes and 7-under in the final four holes while the Lobos went 4-under on the final two and 5-under on the final four holes.  

Junior Beau Schoolcraft, playing in his first tournament for the Buffs after transferring from UCLA two seasons ago, was the co-medalist at 11-under par 205 after a final round 1-over par 73.  Schoolcraft was playing as an individual, and his 36-hole total of 132 (66-66) matched the best mark in CU history, matching John Lindberg’s effort at the Robertson Homes Invitational in Stockton, Calif., in October 1987.  His 205 on a par 72 also matches the school mark currently held by two other Buffs.

“Today wasn’t as good as the first two rounds for me, obviously,” Schoolcraft said. “I felt a little off, a little sloppy, but I was able to grind it out.  I couldn’t get momentum like I did yesterday, but it’s really exciting to start the season off this way and with the team, hopefully we can keep it up and keep improving.”

Leading the way for the team scores for the Buffaloes was senior Kevin Kring, who was the only CU golfer to go under par in each of the three rounds (69-70-70) to finish at 7-under par 209 and tied for ninth.  He was joined in the top 10 by junior Justin Burstyn, who finished tied for ninth with a 54-hole total of 3-under par 213 after posting a 2-under par 70 in the final round.

“I’m really proud of myself, how I hung in there today and finished strong in the end,” Kring said. “I was on the range warming up and was thinking, ‘This is going to be really tough.’  I fought like crazy and mentally this is probably the strongest round I could have ever had.  To shoot 70 while hitting it bad, that’s a pretty good score looking at it.”

Senior Sebastian Heisele had the best round of the day for the Buffs with a 4-under par 68 to finish one stroke behind Burstyn at 2-under par 214 and in 14th place.  He had opening rounds of 72-74 for the Buffaloes yesterday.

“Being one of the two seniors, I wanted to come out today and put in a strong round and make up for yesterday,” Heisele said. “I’m happy with what we did today.  Obviously to take a win in your home event and set up for a strong run in our first Pac-12 season – we can always get better – but I’m especially happy with how we did today.”

One stroke back of Heisele was junior Justin Fribbs, who began the day in third place but slipped into a tie for 15th after a final round 7-over par 79 left him at 1-under par 215.  Freshman David Oaree proved clutch for the Buffs in the fifth spot by shooting an even par 72 in the final round.  Oaree struggled in the first round, shooting 9-over par 81, but shaved 11 strokes off his score in the second round and after his even par final round, he finished tied for 47th at 7-over par 223.

Aside from Schoolcraft, the Buffs’ Johnny Widmer (70-75-71—216) and John Ahern (76-86-81—243) also played individually.  Widmer’s final under-par round gave him a top 20 finish as he tied for 18th while Ahern finished in 84th.

Schoolcraft tied with San Diego’s Alex Cheng as the two split medalist honors.  Cheng shot a final round 3-under par 70 to get to the 205 mark.  The two were not in the same group, but both birdied their final hole of the day to heighten the drama.

“My round today was steady,” Cheng said. “I made a key putt on the last hole – that was exciting.  CU did a great job of hosting, and to win this tournament is great, I’m happy to be a part of it.”

New Mexico’s John Catlin was third at 9-under par 207 after posting a 3-under par 69 in the final round, while New Mexico State’s Justin Shin took home fourth one stroke back at 8-under par 208.  Kring was tied for fifth with Oklahoma’s Abraham Ancer, who shot even par to finish at 7-under par 209.